Abayomi Arabambi, the factional Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, has sharply criticized the party’s choice of Peter Obi as its 2023 presidential candidate, calling it a serious misstep.
Speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday, Arabambi argued that the party forfeited a real opportunity for national transformation by sidelining Faduri Joseph a US-based nurse, entrepreneur, and party member whom he described as a candidate with a clear record of transparency and accountability.
“Selecting Peter Obi was not just a poor decision; it was a betrayal of the Nigerian people’s hope for genuine change,” Arabambi declared.
He accused Obi of relying on emotional appeals and offering superficial policy ideas. In contrast, Arabambi portrayed Faduri as a disciplined reformist with a well-defined vision for governance.
Arabambi further alleged that Obi’s 2023 campaign was laced with ethnic undertones and that he failed to clearly reject secessionist rhetoric.
“His silence on Nnamdi Kanu’s divisive statements and his selective stance on insecurity exposed a dangerous bias,” he said. “Nigeria needs a leader who respects the rule of law not one who plays to ethnic extremism.”
He also took issue with Obi’s recent economic commentary. Referring to a Channels TV interview, Arabambi claimed Obi misrepresented Nigeria’s debt profile, insisting that the country’s external debt had actually declined under President Bola Tinubu from $108.2 billion to $94.2 billion.
According to Arabambi, Faduri’s campaign continues to prioritize tackling corruption and government inefficiency. “Instead of presenting a credible roadmap for Nigeria’s recovery, Obi chose populist rhetoric over substance,” he added.
Looking ahead to 2027, Arabambi urged voters to reject populist figures and support candidates who offer real, implementable reforms.
“We must not repeat the mistakes of 2023,” he warned. “Faduri stands for the deep, structural changes Nigeria truly needs.”
He also criticized the newly formed coalition within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Nasir El-Rufai, urging them to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and support President Tinubu in repairing what he described as the damage from the Buhari era.
Arabambi confirmed that Peter Obi was present at the inauguration of the ADC coalition’s leadership, where he was introduced as the Labour Party leader. “We do not recognize or support that alliance,” he stated.
He concluded by revealing that the Labour Party was preparing to formally expel Obi and his allies. “At our next NEC meeting, Peter Obi and his co-travellers will be officially removed from the party,” Arabambi announced.
Advertisement
